Social Media Skincare

Skincare and beauty by its very nature, is social. It’s also a lot of fun, especially the colour cosmetics side. We all enjoy sharing our latest finds, our rituals and discovering new products from across the world. I know I get excited when I see something new, especially as social media gives us the chance to peak into other peoples bathroom cabinets and make up bags. We can ask questions and get new ideas. It’s like having your girlfriends all-together in a virtual hang out swapping tips and ideas.

However, we also have to be mindful that there are all sorts of people on social media, all with differing agendas to promote. Unfortunately in the world today, recognition seems to be everything, so people find all sorts of extreme ways to jump to the front of the queue, get their voice heard, get the most likes and followers.

Sometimes, in order to do this, they stray into areas that they are not qualified to talk about and by extension dish out false (knowingly or unknowingly) advice in the form of tutorials, DIY and hack videos. Whilst I have no issue with anyone wanting to become social media famous, I do have an issue with anyone giving out ‘advice’ that could potential harm the viewing party.

Skincare is a big deal on social media, which is unsurprising as the industry is tipped to be worth in excess of $130 billion by 2021, with social media and influences driving sales in a big way. By the same token, with the care of skin being my profession, my hobby, my passion, it irks me to see incorrect advice being giving out by influencers under the guise of it being a DIY procedure, a cheat or a dupe.

Why would you want to cheat your skin its health?

Do you know what is in a dupe product? Can you be 100% certain about its origins? Has it fallen off the back of a lorry?

Why would you want to DIY a skin peel? Are you 100% aware of the purpose of a peel? If you think it’s just to brighten your skin and remove dark marks, then please don’t DIY.

For starters, the influencer usually isn’t a qualified skincare professional. They haven’t taken the time to go through a period of intense study to understand the science of skin. Without this knowledge, they are not in the position to give advice, bar speak singularly about their personal experience with a product or procedure. Yes, they can say what products they’ve used that worked for them, but to advice (or influence) someone else to follow that exact same thing is wrong. Reason simply being, we all have different skin, in different conditions. What works for Sharon, may not work for Susan. As a skincare professional who is currently doing further advanced qualifications, I know skin science is no walk in the park!

When it comes to beauty and skincare, there seems to be a lot of people are looking for shortcuts. Healthy skin management is not a drive-thru, it is a sit down à la carte affair where a professional will take the time to thoroughly analyse your skin and your lifestyle, before even thinking of performing a treatment, making a product recommendation or giving you advice. Our reputation lies in this fact and there is not one skincare professional I know who will put their years of study, knowledge gathering and hard graft on the line by not going through a consultation first.

This is why I find it so difficult to give advice over social media platforms. It’s not that I’m mean spirited or because I want to force you to book a paid appointment with me. It’s because I can’t provide (and it is very irresponsible) advice on skin I have not seen. And if I ever do give any advice, it’s always very generic, with a recommendation to either book an appointment with myself or another skincare professional.

So please do me a favour, next time you see DIY/hack video making the rounds – be it about baking soda, charcoal, sudo cream, toothpaste and what ever else kitchen, bathroom or shed discovery with supposedly magical skincare properties– question the credentials of the person making the video and look at their knowledge, their experience, the purpose of their platform and think about what qualifies them to say this?